12 Dec 2011

Sport: Fiji still atop sevens standings despite record loss

11:52 am on 12 December 2011

Fiji will get an early shot at revenge at February's Wellington Sevens.

The world series co-leaders were thrashed 48-0 by Wales in the Plate final in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

That saw them joined at the top of the standings by Cup winners New Zealand, who beat South Africa 31-26.

Welsh coach Richie Pugh says after a tough few weeks it's a great way to finish.

"To nil Fiji is something special and then to score 48 points against them is something else. We've just grown and grown - there's been a few disappointments along the way, Argentina last week and Samoa this morning, but credit to our boys picked themselves up and it's excellent."

Fiji will have a chance to rectify their record defeat when they face Wales in pool play in New Zealand, where they will also take on Argentina and Tonga.

Samoa beat England 17-14 in the third place playoff, having been knocked out by South Africa in the semis.